The woman followed Xia Zhaoyun out of the cabin and was equally astonished by the sight before them. Puzzled, she asked, "The fog is so dense we can't see a thing. What should we do?"
Xia Zhaoyun replied, "I had originally thought of waiting for the fog to clear before moving, but by then, it would be dark, and we'd be even less able to make any progress. Moreover, Qin Sanniang's sudden disappearance is suspicious. Regardless, now is our best chance to escape, so I've decided we'll take the water route."
The woman hesitated, a bit uneasy, and said, "You mean swim to the shore? But I can't swim."
Xia Zhaoyun explained, "Not swim to the shore, and you won't need to get in the water. I'll dive in first; there's no fog beneath the surface, so I can see the way. Then, I'll guide you. You'll just need to paddle in the direction I indicate."
The woman breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, her expression filled with gratitude. Xia Zhaoyun, seeing her smile, immediately felt his spirits lift.
But in the next moment, the woman's brow furrowed, and she asked with concern, "But the weather is so chilly. What if you catch a cold after jumping into the water?"
Xia Zhaoyun was touched by her words and thought, "We've only just met, and yet she worries about me. No matter what, I must ensure she escapes safely." With that in mind, he quickly responded, "Don't worry. It's only September, the real cold hasn't set in yet. Besides, I'm in good shape, a bit of chill won't affect me."
"Alright, then, take care, brother."
Xia Zhaoyun nodded. After fastening one end of a rope to the mast and securing the other to himself, he dove into the water. Moments later, he resurfaced, wiping the water from his face and called out, "I can see the way clearly from here. Paddle northwest."
The woman gave a soft "Mm" in acknowledgment and began rowing with determination. Together, they pressed on, and after two hours, they finally reached the shore. By now, the sky had fully darkened, and faint fishing lights twinkled across the river's surface.
Xia Zhaoyun clambered up from the water, utterly exhausted, collapsing at the bow of the boat.
Understanding his fatigue, the woman did not disturb him but lay down beside him. Yet, no sooner had she done so than Qin Sanniang's voice suddenly pierced the air.
"Hahaha! Clever boy, if not for you, we'd still be lost in the river's fog."
The woman turned around to see Qin Sanniang perched atop the cabin. Xia Zhaoyun, startled awake by her voice, immediately grabbed her hand, and they both leapt from the boat, fleeing toward the shore. They ran for ten miles before stopping to catch their breath.
As Xia Zhaoyun gasped for air, he suddenly realized he was still holding the woman's hand. Her soft, delicate skin made him reluctant to let go for a brief moment.
The woman's lips curled into a small, teasing smile, and she said, "Do you plan on holding my hand forever?"
Embarrassed by her words, Xia Zhaoyun hurriedly released her hand, stammering, "I... I'm sorry, Miss. It was an emergency..."
He avoided her gaze, afraid she might discern the thoughts he tried to hide.
The woman chuckled, "This is the first time I've seen someone apologize like that. Aren't apologies supposed to be sincere? You won't even look at me—what kind of apology is that?"
Annoyed by her words, Xia Zhaoyun raised his head sharply, looked straight into her eyes, and said in a clear, loud voice, "Miss, I apologize."
Amused by his outburst, the woman quickly responded, "Why are you shouting? Are you afraid Qin Sanniang can't find us? Alright, alright, I accept your apology. And from now on, don't call me 'Miss.' Call me Shuoyue instead."
"Shuoyue is your name?"
"That's right, my name is Shangguan Shuoyue."
"I see, Miss Shangguan."
Shangguan Shuoyue glanced at him, and Xia Zhaoyun quickly corrected himself, "I mean, Miss Shuoyue."
With a helpless shrug, Shangguan Shuoyue said casually, "Call me whatever you like."
At this moment, the two of them were resting in a forest, leaning against a large tree. After a brief pause, Xia Zhaoyun suggested gathering firewood to keep warm. Shangguan Shuoyue, puzzled, asked, "It's so dark, where are we going to find firewood? Besides, we don't have anything to start a fire with."
Xia Zhaoyun responded, "We can start a fire by rubbing sticks together."
As she watched the flames leap to life before her eyes, Shangguan Shuoyue was astonished. Having grown up as the daughter of a wealthy family, she had never experienced surviving in the wild. Seeing Xia Zhaoyun handle everything with such skill and precision left her somewhat in awe, and she found herself developing a slight admiration for him.
"After all this time, I still don't know your name, brother," Shangguan Shuoyue remarked.
Xia Zhaoyun hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to reveal his true identity to her. His hesitation, however, displeased Shangguan Shuoyue, who coldly said, "If it's inconvenient for you, don't bother telling me."
Sensing her displeasure, Xia Zhaoyun quickly explained, "Miss Shuoyue, it's not that, I just..."
"It's alright," she interrupted, "everyone has their secrets. You can tell me when you're ready."
Though slightly unhappy, Shangguan Shuoyue still gave him an easy way out, which only deepened Xia Zhaoyun's growing fondness for her.
They sat facing each other, a crackling fire between them. In the flickering light, Shangguan Shuoyue's delicate beauty was illuminated clearly in Xia Zhaoyun's eyes. Her eyes were pure and bright, devoid of any impurities. Her dimples appeared faintly when she smiled, making her look as graceful as a goddess, her charm utterly irresistible. Xia Zhaoyun, entranced by the sight, unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
But his dreams were far from peaceful. Once again, he saw the scene of his family being slaughtered—his father, mother, and sister, along with every servant, dying one by one, their cries echoing in his ears. His grandfather, clutching him tightly, fled into the night along a seemingly endless road. Suddenly, a black-clad figure appeared ahead, striking down his grandfather with a single blow. Xia Zhaoyun awoke with a start, drenched in cold sweat, realizing it was already morning.
Seeing his anxious expression, Shangguan Shuoyue quickly asked, "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
"How did you know I had a nightmare?"
"Look at the sweat on your forehead and the pained look on your face—if that's not a nightmare, what is?"
Xia Zhaoyun, not wanting to reveal his past, deliberately changed the subject. "It's dawn. Let's get going."
Shangguan Shuoyue didn't press him further, and they continued on their way. After leaving the forest, they walked two more days through the mountains before finally arriving at Hengshan City. As they stood before the large characters spelling "Hengshan City," Xia Zhaoyun felt a weight lift from his heart. He had been given an important task by Chang Jingyun and knew how crucial it was, so he hadn't dared to relax for a moment. Yet along the way, they had encountered one misfortune after another. Fortunately, they had now escaped danger.
Seeing Xia Zhaoyun's improved mood, Shangguan Shuoyue probed, "It seems your problem has been resolved."
Xia Zhaoyun responded, "What makes you think that?"
"Along the way, you were furrowing your brow as if something was weighing on your mind. But now, upon reaching Hengshan City, your expression has eased. Doesn't that mean your problem has been solved?"
Xia Zhaoyun was both surprised and touched. He thought to himself, "Not only is she intelligent, but she also pays such close attention to others. She must have been secretly observing me all this time, noticing even the slightest changes in my mood." This realization brought a faint smile to his lips, filling his heart with joy.
The two of them went to an inn to find lodging. Upon entering, they were warmly greeted by the innkeeper, though the hospitality was clearly directed more towards Shangguan Shuoyue than Xia Zhaoyun. Xia Zhaoyun was initially confused as to why the innkeeper ignored him, but upon further reflection, he understood. It was obvious the innkeeper judged guests based on their appearance. His plain clothes marked him as someone of humble origins, while Shangguan Shuoyue's attire and regal bearing spoke of wealth and status.
Shangguan Shuoyue asked the innkeeper, "Please prepare two upper rooms."
The innkeeper replied, "Apologies, dear guests. Our inn is quite busy today, and we only have one room left. Perhaps you wouldn't mind sharing?"
Xia Zhaoyun said, "If that's the case, we won't trouble you."
They continued searching for another inn, but after visiting nearly every inn in Hengshan City, they found that all were fully booked. In the end, with no other choice, they reluctantly returned to the first inn.
The innkeeper smiled when he saw them again. "This season, finding lodging in Hengshan City is no easy task."
Curious, Xia Zhaoyun asked, "Why is that?"
The innkeeper explained, "It's the peak travel season right now. Every inn is full. You're lucky my inn still has one room left, or you might have had to sleep on the streets tonight."
Xia Zhaoyun glanced at Shangguan Shuoyue and said, "Miss Shangguan, you take the room. I'll continue looking elsewhere." With that, he prepared to leave.
To his surprise, Shangguan Shuoyue stopped him and, after a brief hesitation, said, "Let's just share the room. Innkeeper, please prepare an extra quilt and pillow."
"Of course, right away!" the innkeeper replied.
Xia Zhaoyun was taken aback, feeling both nervous and awkward. He whispered, "Are you sure this is appropriate?"
Shangguan Shuoyue, slightly exasperated, replied, "I'm a woman, and I'm not making a fuss. Why are you, a grown man, being so hesitant? We've already looked everywhere, and it's dark now. Do you really want to sleep on the street tonight?"
Xia Zhaoyun fell silent, thinking, "Perhaps this is fate."
The night was serene, the moonlight shining through the window, bathing the room in its silvery glow. Shangguan Shuoyue soon fell into a deep sleep, but Xia Zhaoyun lay awake, unable to rest. Finally, in the middle of the night, he quietly got up from his place on the floor, approached the bed, and after ensuring Shangguan Shuoyue was sound asleep, hurriedly dressed and slipped out the door.